AN 

ADDRESS 

DEUVERED  BEFORE  THE  DIFFERENT 

AFRICAN  BENEVOLENT  SOCIETIES, 

ON  THE  FIRST  OP  JANUARY,  1819, 
AND  PUBLISHED  AT  THEIR  PARTICULAR  REVEST. 


BY  LEWIS  TAPSICO, 

PRESIDENT  OF  THE  GRENVILLE  SCHOOLING  SOCIETY. 


t 


PHILADELPHIA: 

PRINTED  FOR  THE  AUTHOR, 

1819. 


I 


THE  FLOW :  ICTiON 


AN 


ADDRESS,  #c. 

Mv  Friends  and  Brethren, 
khaSPleaSedthe  beni^  Author  of  aUour=^ 

thatnumerou  -dnoWeb^do  p  endants  0W6 

rrildltm  How  to  satisfy  the  *^* JjggJ 

cruelty.    Diviue  **^J-£^tSTj!E 
exevtious  with  ^-f^^^SS^ouoW^ 

upon  the  memoiy        _  countrymen,  can 

tSSSS  hono  "the— ^  those  who  have 
we  most  eff ectual  y  fte  peace  and  hap. 


4 


more  completely,  than  by  respecting  ourselves  :  by  this 
I  mean,  tbat  we  should  so  conduct  ourselves,  as  to  pro! 
mote  our  own  welfare,  and  thus  find  favour  in  the  sight 
of  Heaven  and  good  men.     It  is  a  lamentable  truth,  that 
too  many  of  our  colour  appear  to  be  regardless  of  the  ad- 
vice and  run  counter  to  the  wishes  of  our  best  friends     1 
speak  plainly,  because  truth  gives  freedom,  and  truth 
must  triumph-Look  abroad,  and  inquire  how  the  great 
mass  of  the  people  of  colour  in  this  city  of  liberty,  conduct 
themselves?    Do  they  faithfully  perform  their "duties  in 
the  various  services  in  which  they  are  engaged,  and  for 
which  they  are  liberally  paid?  Do  they  take  advantage 
of  the  numerons  opportunities  which  are  afforded  by  their 
tnends  for  their  improvement  ?  Do  they  generally  give 
evidence  that  freedom  is  a  real  blessing  to  them  ?  I  fear 
not.    *or  if  they  did,  why  do  so  many  of  our  race  give 
occasion  for  the  daily  complaints  which  are  nttered  against 
them  ?  Why  wonld  so  many  befound  in  the  courts  of  jus- 

Z'm    i  °SfZuS!linSt the  ,aWS' aud  in  contests  among 
themselves?  Why  would  the  friends  of  abolition  and  of 

freedom,  be  assailed  with  such  frequent  accusations  as  this, 
yovarethe  enemies  of  the  public  repose  in  giving  coun- 
tenance  to  those  r>eovle  9»    t  =„i„      i  * 

hZ        i  ,  people  .«■      l  solemnly  assure  you  that 

these  statements  are  h™   ««.i  ;«  ~ 

farth   ti,„        k      are,,,le>amIm  consequence  of  their 
u  h,  those  who  are  the  cause  of  them,  are  heaping  inju- 

IuPan„dUtaS  W**    S»ffm-  menowtosulgesU 
Plan,  and  the  only  plan  which  is  likel    to  ^ 

evils  complained  of,  and  restore  those  who  have  been  too 
neghgent,  and  who  have  deserved  censure  to  a  good  ^u? 
torn  In  the  first  place,  cultivate  aresnectforlhe  Zal 
oh hgatious-that  is,  be  faithful  in  the  iisch  of  ^ 
dn.es  which  are  required  between  man  aud  man.  He 
sald  the  marriage  covenant;  perform  your  promises ;  re- 


spect  the  laws ;  reverence  truth ;  avoid  extravagance ; 
study  economy ;  obey  those  in  whose  service  you  engage; 
shun  vain,  and  debasing  amusements ;  abhor  drunken- 
ness with  all  its  train  of  sins.  Those  who  pay  proper  atten- 
tion to  the  moral  duties,  will  be  prepared  to  discharge  their 
highest  obligations  toward  Gfod — they  will  feel  the  neces- 
sity of  performing  worship  to  him  for  all  his  favours  and 
mercies  ;  they  will  honour  the  sabbath ;  they  will  read  the 
Bible,  and  obey  its  precepts :  they  will  embrace  every 
suitable  opportunity  for  improvement ;  they  will  be  found 
in  all  things  "  doing  unto  others  as  they  would  that  others 
should  do  unto  them  ;"  they  will  thus  become  Christians, 
and  as  Christians  be  eutitled  to  the  favour  of  the  Almighty 
in  this  world,  and  in  that  which  is  to  come.  Whilst  I 
am  conscious  that  it  is  needful,  thus  to  admonish  many 
of  our  colour,  I  feel  happy  in  believing  that  amongst  us 
there  are  those  whose  conduct  is  regulated  by  the  dictates 
of  virtue,  and  who  being  governed  in  all  things  by  good 
principles,  have  acquired  a  character  which  makes  them 
honourable  and  respectable.  Toward  such  we  look  as 
does  the  mariner  to  the  light,  which  is  erected  to  guide 
his  way.  I  know,  that  such  as  these  lament  the  errors 
which  so  few  alas  avoid,  and  desire  the  promotion  of  our 
truest  interests — follow  then  their  good  example  : — we 
shall  thereby  become  worthy  of  enjoying  the  esteem  whicli 
they  possess  in  the  minds  of  the  people  at  large.  It  is 
thus  that  our  cause  will  find  friends — we  shall  thereby 
assist  in  opening  a  path  for  our  enslaved  brothers  to  walk 
forth  in  freedom.  You  little  know  how  much  depends 
upon  our  conduct  who  are  free,  in  either  softening,  or 
making  more  hard  the  hearts  of  slave-holders  toward  our 
captive  brethren.  If  we  who  are  blessed  with  liberty 
make  such  good  use  of  our  freedom,  as  to  prove  that  we  arc 


improved  by  it — our  conduct  will  do  more  than  volumes 
to  show  that  the  assertions  of  our  enemies  are  false  :  for 
they  take  pleasure  in  noticing  our  errors,  as  proof  of  what 
they  declare,  that  we  were  not  made  to  be  free.  In  di- 
recting your  attention  to  those  means  which  will  contri- 
bute to  the  elevation  of  our  character  as  a  people,  I  would 
earnestly  recommend  education;  the  establishment  of 
schools  for  the  instruction  of  the  rising  generation,  should 
be  regarded  of  the  first  concern.  To  enable  a  child  to 
read,  write  and  cypher,  is  to  give  him  a  valuable  estate ; 
it  is  that  sort  of  property  which  none  can  rob  him  of ; 
and  in  making  good  use  of  his  learning,  he  can  promote 
his  temporal  prosperity,  and  advance  his  future  welfare. 
If  instead  of  assembling  as  many  do  in  the  evening,  for 
various  improper,  and  hurtful  purposes,  the  time  thus 
idly,  and  often  wickedly  spent,  was  occupied  in  acquiring 
useful  learning,  how  much  more  happy  would  hundreds 
be.  Those  who  waste  their  hours  of  leisure,  and  will 
not  improve  themselves,  should  remember  that  thousands 
of  our  fellow  men  in  bondage,  who  even  after  their  hard 
toil,  and  scanty  fare  through  the  day,  would  wish  to  learn 
at  night,  but  are  forbid  the  privilege  by  their  cruel  mas- 
ters. O !  that  I  could  persuade  you  to  be  wise — 0  !  that 
I  could  induce  you  to  number  your  blessings.  The  times 
call  for  reflection  on  our  part  my  fellow  men ;  a  momen- 
tous crisis  has  arrived  in  our  history ;  in  those  states 
where  slavery  is  tolerated,  a  plan  has  been  devised  for 
colonizing  free  people  of  colour  in  Africa.  Strange  con- 
tradiction, that  slave-holders  should  originate  schemes  for 
promoting  the  happiness  of  free  descendants  of  Africa ! 
can  it  be  possible !  Some  men  said  to  be  "  wise  and  good" 
are  engaged  in  this  project — but  if  any  who  are  wise  and 
good  are  occupied  in  its  transactions,  they  must  be  de- 


ceived  in  regard  to  the  real  motives  of  the  slave-holding 
gentlemen.  To  me  it  is  as  plain  as  light  itself,  that  the 
manifest  object  is,  to  get  rid  of  the  free  coloured  people 
in  this  empire  of  liberty,  the  more  effectually  to  secure  the 
slave  population  who  groan  upon  its  surface.  Amoug 
other  reasons  assigned  by  the  friends  of  colonization  in 
aid  of  that  object  is,  that  poor  benighted  Africa  may  there- 
by be  enlightened  and  Christianized.  What!  can  it  be 
believed,  that  those  who  deny  the  benefits  of  education 
to  their  own  slaves,  should  wish  to  shed  the  lights  of  re- 
ligion and  learning  over  the  dark  and  dreary  land  of  our 
forefathers.  No !  never,  it  cannot  be,  bitter  and  sweet  do 
not  issue  from  the  same  fountain !  The  more  this  plan  of 
colonization  is  examined,  the  more  disgusting  and  shocking 
do  its  features  appear.  Listen  not  then.  I  beseech  you,  to 
the  syren  song,  it  is  designed  to  beguile  you  into  deep  trou- 
ble ;  once  remove  the  free  people  of  colour  from  the  United 
States,  and  hopeless  will  be  the  condition  of  our  enslaved 
brothers.  May  it  then  be  our  duty  who  are  free,  to  walk  be- 
fore the  people  in  all  godliness  and  sobriety :  let  us  become 
more  and  more  circumspect,  thereby  we  shall  hold  our 
ground  and  prosper.  May  it  please  God  to  enable  our  en- 
slaved brothers  to  bear  with  patience  their  afflictions,  un- 
til it  shall  please  Him,  who  is  lord  of  lords  and  king  of 
kings,  who  delights  in  mercy,  and  is  offended  at  oppres- 
sion, to  open  the  way  for  their  emancipation. 

My  friends  and  Brethren, 

It  is  our  lot  to  enjoy  many  advantages  in  Philadelphia: 
here  we  may  worship  the  Father  of  light  according  to 
the  dictates  of  our  own  consciences  :  here  we  may  pur- 
sue those  lawful  callings  which  will  enable  us  to  live 
comfortably,  and  accumulate  means  for  support  and  ease  in 


8 


sickness  audoldage.  We  should  therefore  embrace  these 
cities  5  and  among  the  benefits  which  ought to  be 
extended  to  the  rising  generation,  I  would  mention  the 
mplance  of  placing  them  to  useful  trades ,  encourage 
Zr  employment  in  agricultural  pursuits-dissuade  them 
Lm  entertaining  high  and  false  notions  of  consequence, 
by  attempting  to  imitate  the  idle  fashions  and  licentious 
SacfeTof  th e  day ,  parade  and  pomp  illy  becomes  us  , 
exteavlgance  and  pride  are  hurtful  to  all.  It  is  a  very  mis, 
Sen  notion,  if  any  believe  that  such  mockery  wil  add  to 
Erreiectebilit/orbappiness.  Onthecon^ryi  begete 
enemies  to  onrrace-we  do  not  see  among  the  white  peo 
l\e  of  like  condition,  a  desire  to  be  so  vain  and  foolish , 
Si  know  that  our  long  and  steadfast  Mends  deeply 
Zmtsuch  conducton  our  part.  I  repeat,  and  would  have 
you  ponder  the  sentiment,  it  is  a  momentous  crisis no* 
history ;  we  cannot  do  too  much  to  endeavour  to  make  our 
seSipvoved  before  God  and  mankind-much  depends 
upon  this-yes,  all  depends  upon  this. 

Becurring  to  the  occasion  which  has  brought  us  toge- 
ther and  sincerely  congratulating  you  on  this  anmversa- 
S  »  .  ent,  which  isS  in  itself  so  joyful  and  propitious 
to  our  race-i  implore  the  blessing  of  Heaven  upon  o«l 
Benefactors,  upon  our  country,  and  upon  ourselves. 


THE  END. 


